The old GLM property on Fifth Avenue West in Battleford is being eyed for a potential gasifier. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Tyler Marr

NEW INDUSTRY

Tax abatement request tabled for developer who eyes old GLM property for gasifier

Jul 17, 2019 | 5:54 PM

A new industry could be on the way for Battleford that would see household and industrial waste burned to produce hydroelectricity.

Bill Roberts with BZZ Enterprises asked the town for tax relief for the old GLM property on Fifth Avenue West which he has eyed as a possible location for a gasifier.

He requested a 60 per cent abatement on the $11,481.23 municipal tax bill.

But as the development is still in its infancy, agenda documents said the town had insufficient information to make an informed decision at this time.

Past abatement requests have been approved when permits have been issued or with plans that have a specific timeline. None of these have been met by BZZ Enterprises as of yet.

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It was recommended lawmakers defer the decision until Roberts could provide additional information about his development plans.

“If there is some legitimacy to this, let’s give him time before making a decision,” CAO John Enns-Wind told council. “There is no precedent and he has made a venture and we want to encourage that but at the same time we can’t have rate payers supporting something like this.”

Council has approved conditional abatement requests to other organizations, like Fieldstone Holdings for the second floor of the Canada Post building. This abatement, however, is requested yearly and the owner is expected to develop the second floor. The owner developed the first floor of at a considerable cost and had permits taken out for the first floor prior to requesting his abatement.

Agenda documents show council granted Discovery Co-Op a 100 per cent abatement after the organization applied for a building permit of significant value that exceeded the cost of developing a new building downtown.

Coun. Doug Laing felt deferring the decision was understandable and fell in line with prior practices.

“The other decisions we made when we did do abatements, we had the information and we were able to make that decision,” Laing said. “In this case, if we just defer him for a little bit and let him know we are willing to work with him but we need that information.”

Lawmakers voted unanimously to defer the request until the fall and administration directed Roberts to speak with the Ministry of Environment and Loraas Environmental. The new abatement request should be up for consideration at the Nov. 3 meeting.

“I think it would be brilliant for the environment if he could take waste and turn it into energy and supply it back to us or SaskPower,” Mayor Ames Leslie said after the meeting. “It would be brilliant for a green initiative but we need to know more.”

The burner needs about 10 tonnes of waste per hour for fuel. The town supplies around 10 tonnes of waste each day.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr